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Australian Diver Calls On Australian Footballers To Come Out of The Closet

09/02/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Matthew Mitcham encourages gay players in the Australian Football League to feel safe and come out of the closet. Mitcham spoke about this several months after AFL player Jason Akermanis wrote that gay footballers  players should remain in the closet. Mitcham, who is a twenty-two year old diving champion, accused Akermanis of being narrow-minded. Mitcham stated “If their environment allows them to feel comfortable enough to come out, I see absolutely no reason why not. All the footy codes have been doing so much work to stamp out homophobia in their sports, and I think it’s brilliant and such a productive thing on their part.”

Mitcham came out in 2008 just before he won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, and has stated that he embraces his sexuality. “It’s a part of me that I love and enjoy and I like being known as gay. I see it as something positive, so it’s just another positive thing to be known as.”

Mitcham believes that the backlash against the column written by Akermanis proves that “The reaction [Akermanis] got from that has pretty much vindicated to everyone his comments were unfounded, his own, and really quite narrow-minded and probably wrong. Even his own football club said they don’t hold the same opinion as him. He has come out and said a couple of things and people are now saying, ‘What are you doing?’ People are deciding to ignore him.”

Mitcham ridiculed Akermanis’ “The world of AFL is not ready for it. To come out is unnecessary for a lot of reasons.” Nearly thirty AFL footballers and coaches have signed up to help the campaign to mark International Day Against Homophobia.

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